Originally Posted by
sstorkel
I disagree with this statement. My typical cadence with clipless pedals is 90-100rpm. That's true regardless of whether I'm on the road bike, touring bike, or full-suspension mountain bike. With platform pedals, I can't get anywhere close to that cadence. You may not see any efficiency loss from platform pedals, but I definitely do!t
I really don't care to get into yet another argument on the subject, but the two scientific studies of the effect on rider power efficiency over longish distances have found no difference between the types of pedals; platform, clip less, or clip. Of course you are welcome to believe that your subjective experience trumps actual objective scientific studies... And for reference see other discussions on the topic on this forum rather than asking me.
P.S. my normal cadence is between 80 and 90 and stays constant without regard to whether I am riding clip less or on platforms... Of course I don't have any belief that a certain type of pedal will make me faster, stronger, etc...
Originally Posted by
sstorkel
FWIW, the only shoes I took with me when I rode from SF to LA were a pair of Shimano MT-31s. They worked just as well for 6 miles of walking around Hearst Castle as they did for 500 miles of pedaling on the bike. For my next tour, I'll probably upgrade to the Specialized Tahoe Sport. Similar look to the MT-31, but just as stiff as my beloved Specialized Comp MTB shoes, according to Specialized.[/COLOR]
Yes, of course your right. A spd compatible shoe is eminently comfortable walking many miles or even hiking (as many of us do when touring), or even better with dressier attire while having a nice meal. I just don't know what I was thinking that a normal walking shoe might be more flexible for touring...
